Dynamic Search Radius for Aerosol Retailer Locator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of aerosol generation devices, such as electronic cigarettes, face challenges in locating retailers that supply appropriate consumables, as existing solutions do not effectively assist in finding nearby retailers that offer the required types of consumables or indicate stock availability.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a positioning module, data storage unit, and processor that determines the user's location and nearby retailers, displaying information on retailers within a predetermined range, including those that deal with specific consumable types and have available stock, using a mobile device connected to the aerosol generation device via Bluetooth or wireless protocols, and providing navigation instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed predetermined range is used for searching retailers, then the search scope is limited and processing is simple, but users may not find sufficient retailers if they are sparse in the area
Solution Approach 1:
The search range is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts the predetermined range based on the number of retailers found - expanding it when insufficient retailers are located and contracting it when adequate retailers are found. This dynamic adjustment ensures reliable retailer discovery while adapting to different geographic densities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the number of retailers found within the search range and using this information to adjust the range accordingly. When the retailer count falls below a threshold, the search range is expanded; when it exceeds the threshold, the range is reduced. This feedback mechanism balances reliability with search efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If retailer information is filtered by specific consumable types, then the information displayed is more relevant to users, but the complexity of matching consumable types increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses data copying and matching by comparing the consumable type information from the aerosol generation device with the consumable types offered by retailers. This automated copying and comparison process filters retailers to show only those carrying compatible consumables, ensuring high relevance without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system handles multiple consumable types universally through a standardized matching mechanism. Rather than requiring separate handling for each consumable type, the system uses a universal data structure and comparison logic that works across different consumable categories, reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the system connects via Bluetooth or wireless protocols to detect consumable types, then the consumable type detection is automated and accurate, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication and consumable type detection is performed periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The system establishes Bluetooth or wireless connections to detect consumable types at key moments (when a device is connected to the aerosol generator, when the user requests retailer information), reducing energy consumption while maintaining detection accuracy when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a smartphone and an electronic cigarette. The smartphone includes a GPS receiver that can determine a position. The smartphone can communicate over a network with a retailer information server that stores information regarding retailers of aerosol generating consumables, including at least a position of the retailers. The smartphone is configured to determine a plurality of distances between the position associated with the smartphone and the respective positions of the retailers. The smartphone can display a map including an indicator for the user's position and icons corresponding to the position of relevant retailers. This can assist a user of the smartphone in locating retailers of aerosol generating consumables.